Lester Lynd

From following his elders around on the farm to earning his gas
money by pulling sprouts off apple trees, Lester Lynd of Pataskala,
knew that not only was he at work, but also at home in the
orchards. Lester has been an integral part of the Lynd Fruit Farm
evolution - from working at the roadside stand that provided 'all
you can drink' cider for 10 cents to becoming the largest apple
wholesaler and pick your own apple operation in Ohio - he has
worked alongside generations at Lynd Fruit Farm.

He brought the controlled atmosphere storage process to the farm
which lengthens the lifespan of the apple by decreasing the oxygen
in the storage area. Lynd Fruit Farm was the first to bring this
technology to central Ohio. Today the farm produces nearly 12
million apples yearly, and also grows pumpkins, cherries, plums,
peaches and daylilies.

He was also instrumental in the success of the Agricultural
Clearance Program through the Ohio Association of Second Harvest
Foodbanks. He advocated for the program and testified at the
Statehouse attesting to the value of the program from a farmer's
perspective.

He's a graduate of Michigan State in the Agricultural Tech
program. He currently serves on the Fruit Growers Marketing
Association Board of Directors as the chairman and has been active
in the Ohio Produce Growers and Marketing Association, serving on
various committees over the years.

He's also a member of the Horticulture Council, the Tree Fruit
Advisory Board and is the past chairman of the American Farm Bureau
Tree Fruits Committee. He's also a member of the Hosanna Lutheran
Church.